Dispensing closure for a liquid container

ABSTRACT

A dispensing closure for a liquid container is arranged to sealingly attach to an opening of the container. The closure comprises at least one storage compartment formed integrally with the closure and arranged for storing a substance. Each storage compartment has a depressible upper portion and is arranged so that depressing the upper portion of a storage compartment facilitates release of the respective substance into the container. The dispensing closure further comprises a dispenser protruding through the closure. The dispenser includes a dispensing lid movable between a closed and an open configuration, so that in an open configuration, liquid contained in the container can be dispensed therefrom.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a dispensing closure and a dispensing arrangement including the dispensing closure. In particular, the invention relates to a dispensing closure and arrangement for a liquid container, whereby the dispensing closure is arranged to facilitate the release of various substances into the container.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Closures incorporating additive dispensing means have been known for many years. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,520 (Croner) discloses a beverage container having a top with a number of rupturable compartments. Each of the compartments includes a different ingredient that, upon rupturing of the respective compartment, is released into the container to modify a basic beverage included in the container. One disadvantage of the closure disclosed there is that it doesn't include means for dispensing liquid from the container.

An improved system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,931 (Weir et al.). This patent describes a closure having a plurality of compartments for storing flavouring agents. Simply depressing a compartment releases the content of the compartment into the container. In addition, the closure provides a spout with a snap-type closure, which can be used for dispensing liquids from the container. Once removed, the closure cannot be placed back to cover the spout. It is clear that the overall system is directed to a single-use application where the consumption is expected to occur shortly after opening of the closure. Further, the compartments are formed from the same material as the closure. Therefore making the compartments collapsible also may compromise the strength and performance of the closure. More design flexibility exists when the closure and compartment materials can be different.

A somewhat similar system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,647 (Han). This patent again discloses a disposable lid including a plurality of compartments with pre-stored additives, such as sugar or cream. It is mainly intended for use with hot drinks, such as coffee. Accordingly, there is a provision of an additional cover which is located above the closure and seals the compartment region. A dispensing opening is also included in the closure and can be opened by a spout actuator. The closure is not very robust since the compartment and the closure are made of the same deformable material. Thus, this closure is less suitable for mass distribution. In addition, the system is directed to a single-use application and does not facilitate the most efficient use of labour and resources.

Somewhat more efficient closure systems are disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,609,612 and 6,959,841 (Vlodek). One closure described in these patents includes a blister pack having a plurality of blisters with various additives, as well as a dispenser operable between an open and closed configuration. One disadvantage of this system is the relatively complex overall arrangement and the large number of parts. Apart from the main body of the closure, the system includes a blister pack with blister compartments, a seal membrane insertable between the blister pack and the body of the closure, a rupturable seal applied to the bottom of the blister pack and a retainer ring coupled to the main body of the closure to secure the blister pack within the closure. Such a complex structure makes assembly somewhat difficult and expensive. In addition, the relatively large number of parts that are not integrally formed with the closure increases the assembly cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a dispensing closure for a liquid container, the dispensing closure being arranged to sealingly attach to an opening of the container and comprising:

-   -   at least one storage compartment formed integrally with the         closure and arranged for storing a substance, the storage         compartment having a depressible upper portion and being further         arranged so that depressing the upper portion of a storage         compartment facilitates release of the substance into the         container; and     -   a dispenser protruding through the closure and comprising a         dispensing lid movable between a closed and an open         configuration, so that in an open configuration, liquid         contained in the container can be dispensed therefrom.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each storage compartment comprises a bottom seal for sealing the substance inside the respective compartment, wherein at least a portion of each bottom seal is made of a frangible material or comprises a line of weakness so that, depressing the upper portion of a storage compartment causes the bottom seal to rupture, thus releasing any substance stored in the respective storage compartment into the container.

Preferably, the closure comprises a plurality of flexible storage compartments formed from a single body integrated with the closure.

Preferably, the body of the plurality of storage compartments comprises a peripheral lip arranged to, when the closure is mounted onto the container, sealingly engage a peripheral surface adjacent the opening of the container so as to seal any liquid within the container.

Also preferably, a single common seal is arranged to seal all storage compartments. Even more preferably, the common seal is made of a frangible foil sheet that bonds to an underside surface of the closure. More preferably, the frangible foil sheet is a push through aluminum foil that is heat sealed to the respective underside surface of the closure.

Preferably, the dispensing closure comprises a threaded portion for sealingly attaching to the opening of the container.

Preferably, the dispenser is of a cylindrical shape and is located at the centre of the closure, the storage compartments being concentrically disposed around the dispenser.

Preferably, the container is arranged for containing beverages and the closure is arranged for containing substance in the form of at least one dissolvable tablet, powder, or liquid concentrate.

Also preferably, the dispensing lid is a centrally located push-pull formation that is axially movable between an open and closed configuration.

Preferably, the closure further comprises a cover arranged to fit over at least a portion of the closure so as to protectingly cover the closure during storage and distribution.

Preferably, the dispensing closure further comprises the substance stored in at least one storage compartment.

In another aspect, there is provided a bottle having the dispensing closure of the first embodiment of the invention.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, there is provided a dispensing arrangement for a liquid container, the arrangement comprising the closure of the invention and a substance implement, the substance implement including a support base and at least one blister attached to the support base and including the substance, the implement being arranged to be fastened between the closure and an abutment surface of the opening of the container, so that each blister is received within a respective storage compartment and, depressing the upper portion of any one of the at least one storage compartments, applies pressure on a respective blister and effects the release of the included substance into the container.

Preferably, each blister comprises a bottom seal for sealing the substance inside the blister, wherein each bottom seal comprises a line of weakness or at least a portion of the bottom seal is made of a frangible material so that, in use, depressing the upper portion of a storage compartment causes the bottom seal of the underlying blister to rupture and release the included substance into the container.

Further preferably, the closure comprises a plurality of storage compartments concentrically disposed around the dispenser.

Preferably, the container is arranged for containing beverages and the blisters are arranged for containing substance in the form of at least one dissolvable tablet, powder or liquid concentrate.

Preferably, the implement further comprises the substance stored in at least one blister.

Also preferably, the arrangement further comprises a protective cover configured to fit over the closure so as to protectingly cover the closure during storage and distribution.

Another aspect includes a bottle having the dispensing arrangement of the second embodiment.

According to a third embodiment of the invention, there is provided a dispensing closure for a liquid container, the dispensing closure being arranged to sealingly attach to an opening of the container and comprising:

-   -   a plurality of storage compartments formed integrally with the         closure and arranged for storing a substance, each of the         storage compartments having a depressible upper portion; and     -   a dispenser connected to the closure such that to protrude         therethrough, the dispenser comprising a dispensing lid movable         between a closed and an open configuration, so that in an open         configuration, liquid contained in the container can be         dispensed therefrom, and     -   a bottom seal for sealing the substance inside the compartments,         at least a portion of each bottom seal being made of a frangible         material so that, depressing the upper portion of a storage         compartment causes the bottom seal to rupture, thus releasing         any substance stored in the respective storage compartment into         the container,     -   wherein all storage compartments include a single body         integrated within the closure.

Preferably, the single body of the storage compartments is made of a different material than the closure.

Preferably, the body of the plurality of storage compartments comprises a peripheral lip arranged to, when the closure is mounted onto the container, sealingly engage a peripheral surface adjacent the opening of the container so as to seal any liquid within the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the dispensing closure, according to the invention, the closure being arranged for engaging with the bottleneck of a drink bottle;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the dispensing closure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective, partial cross-sectional view of the dispensing closure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an underside view of the dispensing closure of FIG. 1, wherein the foil seal sealing the bottom of the storage compartments has been removed and no tablets have been included;

FIG. 5 is an underside perspective view of the dispensing closure of FIG. 4, with the foil seal sealing the bottom of the storage compartments;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the main body of the dispensing closure of FIG. 1, prior to co-moulding the storage compartments to the main body;

FIG. 7 is the body of the storage compartments of the dispensing closure of FIG. 1, represented as a separate item;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the dispensing closure of FIG. 1, in an assembled configuration and without the protective cover; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of the dispensing closure and bottle of FIG. 1, in an assembled configuration.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in FIG. 1, dispensing closure 1 is arranged for sealingly attaching to the neck 2 of a bottle 3. To effect the sealing, closure 1 threadedly engages with neck 2. Dispensing closure 1 comprises a plurality of blisters 4 integrated within the closure 1. Each blister 4 is arranged for storing a dissolvable tablet 5, including beverage additives, and enables a user to dispense the dissolvable tablet 5 into a liquid stored in bottle 3. Blisters 4 are made of deformable material so that a pressure applied by a user to the upper portion 6 of a blister 4 will deform the blister and apply downward pressure to the respective tablet 5. The bottom of each blister 4 includes an opening 7 which is used to insert a respective tablet 5 inside the blister during assembly and to dispense the tablet, when the upper portion 6 of the blister is depressed. Instead of single tablet 5, a blister may include a plurality of dissolvable tablets, powder or liquid concentrate.

Dispensing closure 1 also includes a rupturable foil sheet 8 attached to the underside of closure 1 to seal the bottom openings 7 of the blisters 4, once respective tablets 5 have been inserted in blisters 4. The underside of the dispensing closure is shown with and without foil sheet 8 on FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively. Also represented in FIG. 4 are the underside areas 9 of dispensing closure 1, to which foil sheet 8 is bonded. Since tablets may be hygroscopic, the sealing of foil sheet 8 to underside area 9 should be effected immediately after insertion of tablets 5. In addition, the quality of the seal should be sufficient to maintain the tablets 5 inside the blisters substantially dry for a predetermined period of time, thus preserving their properties during this period.

There are various mechanical requirements to foil sheet 8. The foil sheet should be sufficiently frangible so that, when the user depresses upper portion 6 of blister 4, the downward pressure applied to the respective tablet 5 is able to rupture foil sheet 8 and to release tablet 5 within bottle 3. At the same time, the quality of the foil and the pattern of the application of the heat sealing, as facilitated by surfaces 9 of the underside profile of closure 1 in FIG. 4, are such that a release of one tablet 5 does not affect the areas of foil sheet 8 located underneath the remaining tablets. The foil sheet 8 of the preferred embodiment is a push through aluminum foil. Apart from having the requested properties, this material limits the water vapour transmission into the blister, thus preserving the contents of the blister. It is also preferred that foil sheet 8 has at least one side that can bond to underside area 9. The preferred method of application is to heat seal foil sheet 8 to closure 1 at areas 9. Foil sheet 8 and the heat sealing process should be such that, upon dispensing of one or more tablets, no pieces of foil are released into bottle 3.

Tablets 5 are so shaped and arranged within the blisters that, once the bottom portion of a tablet 5 penetrates through foil sheet 8, it creates an opening which is sufficiently large for the dispensing of the rest of the tablet. As shown in FIG. 1, in the preferred embodiment this is achieved by having any enlarged portion of the tablets oriented towards foil sheet 8. In this way a pressure applied to blister 4 forces the largest portion of the tablet through the seal, thus ensuring that the rest of tablet 5 is easily dispensed through the created opening.

Tablet 5 may also have different shapes to facilitate the easy dispensing from the closure. For example, a sharp bottom point may help rupture the foil sheet 8 prior to the largest portion of the tablet 5 passing through the seal. Further, flat sides of the tablet may be used assuming the total displacement of the upper blister 6 is great enough to pass the entire tablet 5 out of opening 7. Flat sided tablets may make the production easier and less expensive.

Closure 1 further includes a dispenser 10 that protrudes through dispensing closure 1 and facilitates the dispensing of the beverage from bottle 3. Dispenser 10 comprises a push-pull mouth piece 11 axially movable between a closed and open configuration. In the closed position, push-pull mouth piece 11 is sealed against dispenser 10 preventing fluid from dispensing. Push-pull 11 has both a plug seal and a compression seal with dispenser 10 in the preferred embodiment. In the open position, fluid can exit dispenser 10 through radial openings in dispenser 10 and then through the central opening in push-pull 11. This type of dispensing and sealing is common and well known to those familiar with the prior art. The three blisters 4 of this preferred embodiment are concentrically arranged around dispenser 10.

While in FIG. 1 and FIG. 8 the individual blisters 4 appear to represent separate items, in fact they are part of a single integral body 12 as shown in FIG. 7. All three blisters are simultaneously co-moulded within the main body 13 of closure 1. Thus, they define the blister body 12 shown in FIG. 7. Here it should be emphasised that the blister body 12 is represented in FIG. 7 separately from the main body 13 of dispensing closure 1, only for the purpose of clearly illustrating its integral nature. It has to be noted, however, that blisters 4 are moulded within the main body 13 of the closure and, as a consequence, they are built into and are formed integrally with dispensing closure 1.

One advantage of the integral structure of blisters 4 as blister body 12 is related to the fact that they are moulded in a single step and from a single material. This makes their manufacture more labour and cost effective. External indicia 6A are moulded on each blister 4 as illustrated in FIG. 7. Such marking allows the user to choose between the respective tablets stored in the differently marked blisters. Alternatively, different colours or other indicia can be later added to the external surface of the blisters so as to allow the user to distinguish them from each other.

It is preferred that blister body 12 is made of a flexible material, preferably a thermoplastic elastomer that bonds directly to the exposed surfaces of main body 13 of dispensing closure 1. Main body 13 is preferably moulded using a polyolefin, and more preferably, polypropylene. Further, the flexible thermoplastic elastomer is mechanically locked onto main body 13 after co-moulding.

A further improvement over traditional structures relates to the fact that the integral body of the blisters further comprises a peripheral lip 14 arranged to, when the closure is fitted onto bottleneck 2, sealingly engage a peripheral surface 15 of neck 2 to seal the respective beverage within bottle 3. In such a way, the material and the process for manufacturing the blisters are also used to manufacture the seal providing the sealing between dispensing closure 1 and neck 2.

Dispensing closure 1 further includes a protective cover 16, which fits over dispensing closure 1 and protects the upper surfaces of the closure during storage and distribution. The main purpose of protecting cover 16 is to prevent a user from inadvertently depressing deformable upper portion 6 of a blisters 4 and, thus, prematurely dispensing the content of the blister into bottle 3. It also keeps push-pull mouth arrangement 11 of dispenser 10 clean and in the closed and sealed position. Protective cover 16 is snap lockingly engaged with dispensing closure 1 so that it can be removed and fitted over the dispensing closure multiple times.

In use, the user removes cover 16 and presses down on one or more of the blisters 4, to cause the contents stored in the respective compartment/s to be dispensed into a liquid stored in bottle 3. The user then moves push-pull mouth piece 11 of dispenser 10 into the open configuration to drink or pour the liquid mixture out of the bottle.

It is clear from the above description that the dispensing closure of the preferred embodiment has a relatively simple structure and is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

It should be appreciated that the dispensing closure of the invention is not limited to the described preferred embodiment, but also covers other arrangements using similar concepts.

For example, a closure similar to that of the preferred embodiment can be part of a dispensing arrangement where the closure blisters do not include a bottom seal, but form only the upper portion of storage compartments for including the tablets. This alternative arrangement further includes a separate blister implement, including a support frame and a plurality of blisters with frangible bottoms. The implement is insertable within and is supported underneath the closure by an abutment engagement of the support frame and the bottleneck of the beverage bottle. The closure has the same number of blisters, as the implement, and is arranged to receive and accommodate the respective blisters of the implement. In this arrangement, depressing the upper portion of a closure blister applies downward pressure on a respective implement blister, which ruptures the frangible bottom of the implement blister and dispenses the respective tablet contained in the implement blister. One advantage of such an arrangement is that a single dispensing closure can be used multiple times with different blister implements. To accommodate such an application, the material of the closure blisters should not only be deformable, but also flexible, so as to be able to flex back after each depression. The fact that the blister implement is received within the dispensing closure reduces the mechanical requirements to the material used for manufacturing the upper portion of the implement blisters. The blister implement can now be manufactured relatively easily by joining two foil sheets to each other. Again, the arrangement is relatively simple and easy to manufacture.

Other variations are also possible. For example, instead of using a single foil sheet for sealing simultaneously all blisters of the preferred embodiment, separate foil portions can be used. Instead of foil sheet, a plastic sheet or other frangible material can be used. The sealing between the dispensing closure and the bottle can also be arranged in different ways. One example is the use of a sealing lip which is part of the main body of the dispensing closure, and not of the common body of the blisters, thus, creating a plug seal to those familiar with the art. In addition, the dispensing closure can include one or more blisters which may not be concentrically disposed around the dispenser. Also, while in the preferred embodiment the entire body of blisters is made of deformable material, in another embodiment only the top of the blisters may be deformable. In addition, blisters could be co-moulded separately, allowing for different blister colours to represent different flavours or other attributes associated with the content of the blisters. Furthermore, beverage additives in liquid, powder or other forms can be used instead of tablets.

The terms “comprising” and “including” and their grammatical variations, are used throughout this specification, in inclusive sense and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of”. 

1. A dispensing closure for a liquid container, the dispensing closure being arranged to sealingly attach to an opening of the container and comprising: at least one storage compartment formed integrally with the closure and arranged for storing a substance, the storage compartment having a depressible upper portion and being further arranged so that depressing the upper portion of a storage compartment facilitates release of the substance into the container; and a dispenser protruding through the closure and comprising a dispensing lid movable between a closed and an open configuration, so that in an open configuration, liquid contained in the container can be dispensed therefrom.
 2. The dispensing closure of claim 1, each storage compartment comprising a bottom seal for sealing the substance inside the respective compartment, wherein at least a portion of each bottom seal is made of a frangible material or comprises a line of weakness so that, depressing the upper portion of a storage compartment causes the bottom seal to rupture, thus releasing any substance stored in the respective storage compartment into the container.
 3. The dispensing closure of claim 2, wherein the closure comprises a plurality of flexible storage compartments.
 4. The dispensing closure of claim 3, wherein the plurality of storage compartments forms a single body integrated with the closure.
 5. The dispensing closure of claim 4, wherein the body of the plurality of storage compartments comprises a peripheral lip arranged to, when the closure is mounted onto the container, sealingly engage a peripheral surface adjacent the opening of the container so as to seal any liquid within the container.
 6. The dispensing closure of claim 4 or claim 5 wherein a single common seal is arranged to seal all storage compartments.
 7. The dispensing closure of claim 6, wherein the common seal is made of a frangible foil sheet that bonds to an underside surface of the closure.
 8. The dispensing closure of claim 7, wherein the frangible foil sheet is a push through aluminum foil sheet.
 9. The dispensing closure of claim 8, wherein the frangible foil sheet is heat sealed to the respective underside surfaces of the closure.
 10. The dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein the dispensing closure comprises a threaded portion for sealingly attaching to the opening of the container.
 11. The dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein the dispenser is of a cylindrical shape and is located at the centre of the closure, the storage compartments being concentrically disposed around the dispenser.
 12. The dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein the container is arranged for containing beverages and the closure is arranged for containing substance in the form of at least one dissolvable tablet, powder or liquid concentrate.
 13. The dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein the dispensing lid is a centrally located push-pull formation that is axially movable between the respective closed and open configuration.
 14. The dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein the closure further comprises a cover arranged to fit over at least a portion of the closure so as to protectingly cover the closure during storage and distribution.
 15. The dispensing closure of claim 1, wherein the dispensing closure further comprises the substance stored in at least one storage compartment.
 16. A bottle having the dispensing closure of claim 1 or claim
 2. 17. A dispensing arrangement for a liquid container, the arrangement comprising the closure of claim 1 and a substance implement, the substance implement including a support base and at least one blister attached to the support base and including the substance, the implement being arranged to be fastened between the closure and an abutment surface of the opening of the container, so that each blister is received within a respective storage compartment and, depressing the upper portion of any one of the at least one storage compartments, applies pressure on a respective blister and effects the release of the included substance into the container.
 18. The dispensing arrangement of claim 17, wherein each blister comprises a bottom seal for sealing the substance inside the blister, wherein each bottom seal comprises a line of weakness or at least a portion of the bottom seal is made of a frangible material so that, in use, depressing the upper portion of a storage compartment causes the bottom seal of the underlying blister to rupture and release the included substance into the container.
 19. The dispensing arrangement of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the closure comprises a plurality of storage compartments concentrically disposed around the dispenser.
 20. The dispensing arrangement of any one of claim 17, wherein the container is arranged for containing beverages and the blisters are arranged for containing substance in the form of at least one dissolvable tablet, powder or liquid concentrate.
 21. The dispensing arrangement of claim 17, wherein the implement further comprises the substance stored in at least one blister.
 22. The dispensing arrangement of claim 17, wherein the arrangement further comprises a protective cover configured to fit over the closure so as to protectingly cover the closure during storage and distribution.
 23. A bottle having the dispensing arrangement of claim
 17. 24. A dispensing closure for a liquid container, the dispensing closure being arranged to sealingly attach to an opening of the container and comprising: a plurality of storage compartments formed integrally with the closure and arranged for storing a substance, each of the storage compartments having a depressible upper portion; and a dispenser protruding through the closure and comprising a dispensing lid movable between a closed and an open configuration, so that in an open configuration, liquid contained in the container can be dispensed therefrom, and a bottom seal for sealing the substance inside the compartments, at least a portion of each bottom seal being made of a frangible material so that, depressing the upper portion of a storage compartment causes the bottom seal to rupture, thus releasing any substance stored in the respective storage compartment into the container wherein all storage compartments include a single body integrated within the closure.
 25. The dispensing closure of claim 24, wherein the single body of the storage compartments is made of a different material than the closure.
 26. The dispensing closure of claim 24, wherein the body of the plurality of storage compartments comprises a peripheral lip arranged to, when the closure is mounted onto the container, sealingly engage a peripheral surface adjacent the opening of the container so as to seal any liquid within the container. 